Vehicle spring suspension



Feb. 13, 1934. D G. ROOS VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION Filed June 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l v Qw Q q Q m k n wk [a w? m3 .4 M A, W Q 9 8 m Q \\\\\M Feb. 13, 1934'.

D. G. ROOS' VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION Filed June 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Feb. 13, 1934 a j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION Delmar G. Roos, South Bend, Ind., assis'nor to The Studebaker Corporation, South Bend, M,

a corporation of New Jersey Application June a, 1932. Serial No. 015,991 mm. (or. 280- 124) This invention relates to improvemem's in vethe side frame members 11 and 12 and secured hicle spring suspension, andhas for its principal together intermediate their length by a plate 22 object the provision of means for providing inand a corresponding plate, not shown. An endependent spring action between the individual gine 24, clutch 25, and transmission 27 are op- 5 wheels and the chassis frame on the vehicle. eratively supported upon the two front cross 00 A further object lies in the provision of means members 13 and 14. and a differential 28 is sup- 1 independent of the springs for maintaining the ported by the cross members 16 and 1'1. The rear wheels in alignment with the chassis frame transmission and differential are connected by a and imparting the driving and braking forces to propeller shaft 30 having universal Joints 31 and 10 the frame. 32 therein. Front 'wheels 35 and 3B are con- 55' A still further object lies in the provision of nected to the chassis frame 10 by means of a syscushioning means between the rear wheels and tem of transverse springs, two of which are shown the frame to absorb road shocks imparted to the at 38 and 39. This front spring suspension and wheels and prevent such road shocks from being a steering gear, not shown, adapted for use there- 15 transmitted to the vehicle frame. It is also. an with form the subject matter of my co-pending 7o object to provide a spring mounting which will application, Serial No. 615,992 filed on even date firmly support the chassis frame upon the wheels herewith. and maintain the wheels in alignment but which The rear wheels 40 and 41 are secured to the at the same time will permit complete freedom chassis frame 10 by means of pivoted arms 43 so of motion of the wheels in response to road and 44 respectively, and by individual semi-ellip- 7s shocks. tical leaf springs, one of which is shown at 45 It is an additional object to provide a device in Figure 2. The mountings for the two rear of the character described which is simple and wheels 40 and 41 are exactly similar except that economical to manufacture, easy to install, and one is right-hand and the other is left-hand in as which will not readily get out of order in use. sense, and it will therefore be understood that so Other objects and advantages will appear as the elements defined in the following description the description proceeds. occur in pairs, one element of each pair being The accompanying drawings show an acceptaassociated with the suspension of one of the ble mechanical embodiment of the idea of the inwheels 40 or 41 and one with the other.

so vention. The drawings, however, are not to be Still referring to Figurel, it will be observed as takenaslimiting the invention, the scope of which that the arms 43 and 44 are pivotally mounted is to be measured entirely by the scope of the at one end upon the cylindrical or tubular cross sub-joined claims. member 15 adiacent to the ends of the cross mem- In the drawings: her, and extend rearwardly and outwardly, di-' 35 Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle chassis agonally beneath the side framemembers 11 and showing the device of the invention applied 12 and that the wheels 40 and 41 are mounted thereto. upon the outer or free ends of the pivoted arms Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale 43 and 44. g on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direc- Referring now to Figure 2. i will b rv 40 tion of the arrows. that the ends of the tubular cross member 15 05 Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale are mounted in brackets, one of which is indion the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direccated at 47, secured to the under part of the tion of the arrows. side frame members 11 and 12 by bolts 48, and Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 that each of the pivoted lever arms comprise two 45 of Figure 3. portions, a main portion and a bearing cap, that Figure 5 is a sectionalview on an enlarged scale of the arm 43 being indicated at 50. secured to on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. the main portion by stud bolts 51. At the end Figure 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale opposite the bearing caps the arms are provided on the line 6-6 of Figure 1. with enlarged, wheel mounting portions as indi- 60 Referring to the drawings in detail and par cated at 53 upon the lower sides of which there ticularly to Figure 1, the numeral 10 generally. are downwardly projecting portions as indicated indicates a vehicle chassis frame having side at 54', each provided with an aperture one of members 11 and 12, cross members 13, 14, 15, which is indicated at 55 in Figure 3, in each of 16, 1'7 and 18, and an X frame'comprising two which is secured abolt or threaded stud 56 and 65 bent members 20 and 21 secured at their ends to .a spring hanger as indicated at 58 is pivotally mounted upon the threaded end portion of each stud. Referring now to Figure 2, it will be observed that the spring hangers are each provided at each end thereof with transverse grooves and are firmly secured to the center of the leaf springs by means of U-bolts as indicated at 59 and 60, which rest in the grooves and at their lower ends pass through apertures in plates, one of which is indicated at 61, the springs being compressed between the spring hangers 58 and the plates 61 by nuts 62 and 63 screw threaded upon the ends of the U-bolts 59 and 60.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be observed that the threaded studs 56 have each a tapered portion fitting in the corresponding tapered aperture 55 in a projection 54 and are secured in the apertures by means of nuts one of which is indicated at 65 bearing against brake dust covers secured to the sides of the members 43 and 44 and that the spring hangers 58 are pivotally mounted upon the portions of the members 56 which project beyond the sides of the members 43 and 44 opposite the nuts 65, the projecting portions of the studs being provided with relatively coarse screw threads as indicated at 66. Cup shaped members one of which is indicated at 68, adapted to contain lubricant, are secured to the spring hangers 58 over the ends of the studs 56, and a resilient washer as indicated at 69 surrounds each stud 56 between the spring hanger and the adjacent surface of the pivoted arms to provide a lubricant seal. The springs 45 are provided at each end thereof with eyes as indicated at '70 and 71 inFigure 2 and spring shackles shown at '72 and 73 respectively connect these eyes with apertured brackets '14 and 75 secured to the lower surfaces of the frame side members 11 and 12. Referring to Figure 3, a sleeve member as shown at 77 is formed integrally with the wheel carrying end 53 of each of the arms 43 and 44, these sleeves being provided internally thereof with annular ribs as indicated at '78 in the ends thereof adjacent to the corresponding ends of the members 43 and 44, and with screw threads as shown at 79 intermediate their lengths. Astubaxle 80 to which one of the wheels 40 or 41 is rigidly secured by means of a hub, one of which is shown at 82, projects axially through each sleeve '77 and is journaled therein by means of outer roller bearings and inner roller bearings 86. The outer roller bearings 85 each comprise an outer race 88, the inner side of which abuts against an annular ring member 89 adjustably secured in each sleeve '77 by means of the screw threads '79 and corresponding screw threads upon the exterior surfaces of the ring members. Each outer roller bearing 85 further comprises an inner race member 90 mounted upon the corresponding stub-axle 80 and restrained from axial mo-.

tion in one direction thereon by means of an annular shoulder 91 formed on the stub axle. Bearing rollers 92 are disposed between the outer race member 88 and the inner race member 90. The inner; roller bearings 86 each comprise an outer race member indicated at 94 abutting at its outer side against the corresponding annular rib '18, an inner race member 95 mounted on the corresponding stub-axle 80, and rollers 96 interposed between the inner and outer race members. A cylindrical spacer 98 is disposed, surrounding each stub-axle 80, between the corresponding inner race members 90 and. 95 and a flanged sleeve spacer 98. A nut 102 is threaded upon the inner end of each stub-axle 80 and tends to move the stub-axle relative to the spacer member 98, the inner race 95 and the sleeve member to tighten the roller bearings 85 and 86. Oil seals 103 and 104 aredisposed at either end of each sleeve 77 between the sleeve and the corresponding hub 82 and the sleeve and the member 100 respectively. A brake cover plate indicated at 105 is secured to each of the members 43 and 44 by means of stud bolts 107 and the studs 56 and serves to support anchoring and actuating means, not shown, for the brake bands 109 operatively mounted within the brake drums 110. A driving axle 112 is operatively connected with each stubaxle 80 by means of universal joints 114 and the flanged members 100.

As particularly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the members 43 and 44 are tubular members and the tubular construction thereof is extended through the ends 53 as illustrated at 115.

Referring now to Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6, it will be observed that tubular sleeves and 121 are mounted upon the cross member 15 adiacent to the ends thereof. Each of these sleeves comprises 100 enlarged end portions indicated at 122 and 123 in Figure 4 connected by a somewhat reduced center portion indicated at 125. Rubber bushings 127 and 128 are disposed between the enlarged portions 122 and 123respectively of each sleeve and 105 the cross member 15 and are bonded both to the sleeves and to the cross member. The ends of the members 43 and 44 are each provided with a half bearing .indicated at 130 in Figure 5 which fits about one half of the reduced portion 125 of the no corresponding sleeve 120 or 121. The bearing caps 50 are each provided with a corresponding half bearing indicated at 132 in Figure 5 which fits about the remaining half of the central portion of the tubular sleeve and forms a-bearing by 115 means of which the members 43 and 44 are journaled upon the sleeves 120, and 121. In the construction shown, a ridge 135 is provided on the portion 125 of each sleeve and these ridges fit into grooves, one of which is indicated at 137, provided in the half bearings 130 to prevent rota- .tion of the members 43 and 44 relative to the sleeves 120 and 121, whereby relative motion of the members 43 and 44 and the cross member 15 will be taken up by the elasticity of the rubber bushings 127 and 128. The bearing caps 50 are secured to the members 43 and 44 by means of stud bolts indicated at 51, and strengthening ribs 139 are provided on the bearing caps to increase the rigidity thereof. Bosses 140 are formed at spaced intervals on the members 43 and 44 and are apertured and screw threaded internally to receive the screw threaded ends of the bolts 51. From this description it will be observed that the wheels 40 and 41 are maintained in alignment with the chassis frame by the rigid, pivoted arms 43 and 44, but that vertical motion of the wheels on an arc, the radius of which is one leg of a right triangle, the hypotenuse of which is the member 43 or 44, is permitted by the elasticity of the rubber bushings 127 and 128. This vertical re wheels is resiliently resisted by the iich support the chassis frame upon The slight lateral motion of the springs r the wheels.

wheels due to the arc of the members 43 and 44 is taken care of by the shackle connections '72 and 73 at each end of each spring 45, and the longitudinal component of the road shocks imparted to the wheels are absorbed by the rubber bushings 12"! and 128 as the center portions 125 of the sleeves 120 and 121 are spaced from the Power is transmitted to the rear wheels from the differential 28 by means of the driving axles- 112, and motion of the wheels relative to the differential is taken care of by the universal joints 114 and the telescopic sections 145 in the axles 112..

From this description it will be observed that I have provided an individual spring suspension for the rear driving wheels of an automotive vehicle by means of which the wheels are firmlyconnected with the chassis frame and rigidly maintained in alignment therewith and at the same time both the longitudinal and vertical components of road shocks imparted to the wheel are effectively absorbed before reaching the chassis frame.

While, for the sake of simplicity, the construction has not been shown in this illustration, it is obvious that rebound dampeners or shock absorbers may be effectively interposed between the chassis frame and the wheels to dampen the rebound and improve the riding characteristics of the vehicle.

Having now described my invention so that others skilled in the art may clearly understand I the same, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A spring suspension for supporting the rear portion of the chassis frame of an automotive vehicle upon the rear wheels of the vehicle comprising, a cross member extending transversely across the rear portion of the chassis frame and rigidly secured thereto, elastic bushings on said cross member, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said bushings adjacent to the ends of said cross member and extending diagonally beneath the side members of said chassis frame provided at their free ends with wheel carrying sleeves, and a leaf spring centrally pivotally connected to the free end of each of said pivoted arms, the ends of said spring being connected to the corresponding side-=frame member of said chassis frame.

2. A spring suspension for supporting the rear portion of the chassis frame of an automotive vehicle upon the rear wheels of the vehicle comprising, a tubular cross member extending transversely across the rear portion of the chassis frame and rigidly secured thereto, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said cross member extending diagonally beneath the side members of said chassis frame and provided at their free ends with wheel carrying sleeves and provided at their pivoted ends with a half-bearing, a bearing cap for each pivoted arm adapted to pivotally secure said arm to said tubular cross member, a tubular member interposed between the bearing in each arm and the tubular cross member, and a leaf spring centrally pivotally connected to the free end of each of said pivoted arms below said wheel carrying sleeves, the ends of said springs being connected to the corresponding side frame members of said chassis frame.

3. A spring suspension for supporting the rear portion of the chassis frame of an automotive vehicle upon the rear wheels of the vehicle comprising, a tubular cross member extending transversely across the rear portion of the chassis frame and rigidly secured thereto, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said cross member adjacent to the ends thereof extending diagonally beneath the side members of said chassis frame and provided at their free ends with wheel carrying sleeves and provided at their pivoted ends with half-bearings, a bearing cap for securing each pivoted arm to said tubular cross member, a tubular member having enlarged end portions interposed between the bearing in each of said pivoted arms and said cross member, said tubular member being spaced from said cross member, bushings of flexible material interposed between the enlarged ends of said tubular members and said cross member, and a leaf spring centrally pivotally connected to the free end of each of said pivoted arms below said wheel carrying sleeves, the ends of said springs being connected to the corresponding side members of said chassis frame.

4. A spring suspension for supporting the rear 9 portion of the chassis frame of an automotive vehicle upon the rear wheels of the vehicle com prising, a tubular cross member extending transversely across the rear portion of the chassis frame and rigidly secured thereto, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said cross member adjacent to the ends thereof extending diagonally beneath the side members of said chassis frame provided at their free ends with wheel carrying sleeves and provided at their pivoted ends with half-bearings, a bearing cap for securing each of said pivoted arms to said cross member, a tubular member having enlarged end portions interposed between the bearing in said pivoted arm and said cross member and spaced from said cross 106 memben-rubber bushings interposed between the enlarged end portions of said tubular member and said cross member bonded to said tubular bush ing member and to said cross member, and a leaf spring centrally pivotally connected to the free 110 end of each of said pivoted arms below said wheel carrying sleeves, the ends of said springs being connected to the corresponding side members of said chassis frame.

5. A spring suspension for supporting the rear 11 portion of the chassis frame of an automotive vehicle upon the rear wheels 'of the vehicle comprising, a cross member extending transversely across the rear-portion of said chassis frame and rigidly secured thereto, a pair of arms pivotally 120.

mounted on said cross member adjacent to the ends thereof extending diagonally beneath the side members of said chassis frame provided at their free ends with wheel carrying sleeves and provided at their pivoted ends with half- 1351 bearings, a bearing cap for securing each of said pivoted arms upon said cross member, a tubular member interposed between the bearings in each of said pivoted arms and said cross member and spaced from said cross member, flexible bushings 139 interposed between each of said tubular members and said cross member to permit limited rotation of said bushing member relative to said cross member, a longitudinal ridge in the central portion of each of said tubular members, a corresponding groove in the bearing portion of each of said pivoted arms to restrain said arms from rotation relative to said tubular members, and

a leaf spring centrally pivotally connected to the free end of each of said pivoted arms below said 146 wheel carrying sleeves, the ends of said springs being connected to the corresponding side members of said chassis frame.

8. A spring suspension for supporting the rear portion of the chassis frame of an automotive vehicle upon the rear wheels of the vehicle comprising, a cross member extending transversely across the rear portion of said chassis frame and rigidly secured thereto, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said cross member extending diagonally beneath the side members of said chassis frame and provided at their free ends with wheel 1 carrying sleeves, a stud having a projecting screw threaded end secured in the free ends of each of said pivoted arms, a spring hanger pivotally mounted upon the screw threaded end of each of said studs, and a leaf spring centrally secured to each of said spring hangers, the ends ofsaid springs being connected to the corresponding side vided at their free ends with wheel carrying sleeves, a stud having an extending screw-threaded end rigidly mounted in the wheel carrying end of eachof said pivoted arms, a spring hanger pivotally mounted upon the screw threaded end of each of said studs, a resilient washer interposed between each of said spring hangers and the adjacent surface of the corresponding pivoted arm, an oil reservoir secured to each of said spring hangers opposite the outer end 01' the corresponding studs, a leaf spring centrally connected to each of said spring hangers, a pair of spaced apertured brackets secured to the lower surface of each of the side members of said chassis frame, and a spring shackle connecting each end of each spring with the corresponding apertured bracket.

DELMAR G. R008. 

